Prep Soccer: Stillman Valley boys eye return to top of Big Northern

From 2009 to 2011, Stillman Valley owned the Big Northern West Division in boys soccer. But last season, Oregon knocked off the Cardinals 2-1 twice in league play to take the crown.

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Eron Harvey

From 2009 to 2011, Stillman Valley owned the Big Northern West Division in boys soccer. But last season, Oregon knocked off the Cardinals 2-1 twice in league play to take the crown.

Stillman Valley wants that title back and head coach Lyn Larsen said they have the team to do it.
“We did lose to Oregon twice, but we came back and beat them in the regional final,” said Larsen, who returns for a ninth season. “We lost in the sectional semifinal to a Keith team that went to state and we have a lot of players returning.”

More importantly, the Cardinals have eight seniors who played on their 2010 team that finished fourth in state, led by forward Leo Lenth and midfielders Keaton Weber and Micah Robert.

“They have lots of leadership and lots of knowledge about what it takes to play at a high level,” said Larsen, who earned her 100th victory as boys head coach during the Colin Smith Invitational tournament Labor Day weekend. “That kind of experience is important because it can be kind of tough when you have a target on your back like we have the last handful of years.”

The Cardinals expect to be strong up front, in midfield and in goal, with senior goalkeeper Steig Theden. Defensively, early season setbacks and a lack of depth give Larsen a bit of concern.

“We can move Keaton (Weber) back because he’s an extremely versatile player,” she said. “John Garza (junior) has varsity experience and he’ll be a solid player and I expect good play from sophomore Nile McCammond back there as well.”

Defending Big Northern West champion Oregon should be in the mix for the title, but many key components of their title-winning team were lost to graduation. Mendota could also pose a challenge for Stillman Valley.

In the East Division, where Burlington Central, Richmond-Burton and Harvard are expected to vie for the top spots, Rockford Christian will fight for a spot in the top half of the division. The Royal Lions, who lost 1-0 in the regional championship to Keith last season, are led by returning senior midfielders and captains Marko Ivancich and Stephen Villacorta, junior forward Rhody Johnson and defenders Chase Gould, Tyler Wright, both seniors, and junior Seth Geddes.

Team capsules
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